outlander

noun

out·​land·​er ˈau̇t-ˌlan-dər How to pronounce outlander (audio)
-lən-
: a person who belongs to another region, culture, or group : foreigner, stranger

Examples of outlander in a Sentence

although we have lived in the village for years, to the natives whose families have been here for generations, we are still outlanders
Recent Examples on the Web The essay is so classically a New York story, a journal entry about an outlander’s temporary harmonic alignment with a place that most Americans only recognize from their televisions. Matt Pearce, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2021 Claire is an outlander (a stranger) from the mid-20th century who, after many years living in the 17th century, has mostly adapted to life among folks unfamiliar with penicillin, automobiles or Dr. Seuss. Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2021 Donegal derives from the Irish Dún na nGall, Dún meaning fort or tower or castle, and nGall meaning foreigner, outlander, stranger, in memory of the conquerors who occupied it. Campbell McGrath, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2020 Now wife, mother, and surgeon, Claire is still an outlander, out of place, and out of time, but now, by choice, linked by love to her only anchor—Jamie Fraser. Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Jan. 2019 What better way to pass the time than with music themed to boats, dreams and afternoon delights (in a print shop, perhaps?) Here’s our Top 10 Outlander yacht rock playlist. Laurie Conrad, Philly.com, 23 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outlander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outlander was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near outlander

Cite this Entry

“Outlander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outlander. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

outlander

noun
out·​land·​er ˈau̇t-ˌlan-dər How to pronounce outlander (audio)
: a person from another country or region

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